Decarburization of iron-carbon alloys by argon-oxygen mixtures

AbstractLiquid iron which contained up to 4% carbon was decarburized at temperatures of 1335 – 1445°C in argon containing up to 1.16% oxygen. Rates were measured by following the O2 consumption by an electrochemical cell, or the CO2 production by a mass spectrometer. The crucible was arranged so that the depth of alloy could be varied without altering the pattern of gas flow. The rate of decarburization did not depend on the crucible-melt interfacial area or the roughness of the crucible. It was concluded that heterogeneous nucleation of CO at the walls of the crucible was not an important rate-controlling step. The effects of carbon content of the melt, oxygen content and flow rate of the gas, and temperature on the rate of decarburization, support previous suggestions that the rate-determining step for the range of conditions studied is diffusion of oxidant in the gas phase. Resume Du fer liquide contenant jusqu' a 4% de carbone fut decarbure a des temperatures variant de 1335 a 1445°C dans de l'argon c...